Cushion-spring.



G. H. VINETTE.

CUSHION SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.3I. I915- RENEWED AUG-23,1918.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

enonen n. vmn'r'rn, or fon'rnorr, mrcmcan.

CUSHION-SPRI NG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15 1918.

Application filed December 31, 1915, Serial No. 69,582. Renewed August23, 1918. Serial No. 251,179.

provide a cushion'spring construction such,

for example, as used in automobile seats, wherein both the initialexpense for material is reduced and the parts may be more rapidlyassembled than heretofore.

The invention consists, primarily, in a series of clips arranged atintervals along the usual circumferential base members or border wiresand extending upwardly therefrom to embrace the lower edge of theskirting. The invention also consists in clips of this general naturehaving tangs bent over the lower turn of the usual helicalsprings,'whereby the springs, circumferential member and skirting may besecured in proper relation to one another; also in clips of the naturefirst stated having tan'gs for securing the usual cross wires to theborder wires. the details of construction shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a seatbottom wherein my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe lower corner of the spring, parts being broken away, showing moreclearly the manner of attaching the web or skirt to the border wire.Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are similar views of one side, showing modified clips.Fig. 6 illustrates the clip shown in Fig. 2 before it is closed upon theborder wire and skirt; and Fig. 7 is a similar viewof a modified form ofclip. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a differentborder member. Fig. .9"

is a perspective view of a clip whereby the skirt, the border wire andone of the helical springs are secured together. Fig. 10 is a similarview of a clip for securing the border wire, cross wires and skirting together. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views, respectively, of the blanks fromwhich the clips shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are formed. Fig. 13 is afragmentary perspective view of a modified construction.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The invention further consists in' Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2and 6, 1 indicates the usual circumferential memher or border Wire,between which cross wires 2 extend .at intervals from side to side.These cross wires support helical springs 3 upon which the upholstering4 rests in a well known manner; and depending from the marginal edges ofthe upholstering is a flexible circumferential skirting 5, preferably ofleather or fabric, the lower edge of which is turned back upon itself at6 jaw 11, the latter of which terminates in an inturned edge or rib 12that is normally spaced somewhat from the side 10) are dropped over thecircumferential member or border wire. The skirtin is then raised intothe space between the si es or jaws 10--11 of the clip, and by means ofa proper tool the side 11 is bent in toward the side 10 until the rib 12snugly engages under the bead of the skirting. I It will be noticed thatthe long side or jaw-10 is on the outside of the skirting and liessubstantially parallel thereto. It also preferably extends somewhatbeyond the rib 12, whereby the wear on the fabric or skirting islessened. The clips, when formed of thin sheet metal, are exceedinglyinexpensive.

In some instances the rib 12 may be replaced by teeth 13 '(see Fig. 7);and, as shown in Fig. 3, the bending tool may be so formed as to crimpthe clips slightly at the points 14-15 between the border wire and thebead. Instead of the sheet metal clips heretofore described, wire clips(Fig.- 4) may be used. These clips are preferably formed from a singlepiece of wire having a longitudinal portion 16 and end portions 18 atsubstantially right angles thereto, both of which lie in a planeparallel to the skirting 5 and correspond to the side or jaw 10. Theportions 18 are extended over the border wire and bent back uponthemselves under the bead as indicated at 19. By slightly changing theshape of the, clip, it may be By slightly extending the outer ends ofthe jaws or clip'elements which correspond to those marked 24 (Fig. 5),flaring elements 28 are formed, between which and the jaws 23 thelowerturn 29 of the helical springs,

together with the'border' wire 1, may be gripped (Fig. 9). The lastmentioned clip is readily formed from a blank slitted as shown in Fig.11, the dashed lines therein indicating the lines about which the partsare to be bent. As is obvious, the border wire and spring may be locatedbelow theupper portion of thejaws 10-11, and in this event the elements2328 would be bent in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 9.

In the modification which appears in Fig. 10, the elements 28 arereplaced by elements 30 which extend at substantially right angles tothe border wire 1 and have their outer margins 31 bent up around thecross wire 32 (each end of which is preferably of U- shape and includesa portion 33 in the same plane and parallel with the adjacent portion ofthe border wire). The clip is readily formed from a blank slitted asshown in Fig. 12 by bending about the dashed lines.

Referring now to Fig. 13, the circumferential member comprises a baseflange 35 a and a circumferential flange 36. The former has restingthereon the lower turn of the helical springs 3, these springspreferably being secured in position by tangs 38 formed by slitting andbending the edge of the flange; and the skirting 5 passes down inside ofthe flange 36 and is retained in position by tangs 39 struck from theflange 35. These tangs embrace the bead of the skirting and force itagainst the inner face of the fiangea construction which obviates direct"wear upon the skirting to a large degree.

It is clear that the details of the various parts may be changed widelywithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not,therefore. wish to be limited otherwise than as indicated by thesubjoined claims.

I claim I -1. A spring construction comprising a circumferential basemember, springs, up-

holstering supported on the springs, a flexlble skirting depending fromthe upholstering and extending substantially to the base member, saidskirting being located wholly on the-side of the base member adjacentthe upholstering, and short independent metal clips passing around theside of the base member opposite to the skirting and embracing the basemember and the edge of the skirting at intervals without passing throughsaid skirting whereby the latter is secured firmly in position. I a

2. A spring construction comprisin a circumferential base member arrangein a plane, helical springs projecting from the plane of the basemember, upholstering covering the outer ends of the springs, a flexibleskirting extending from the upholstering in a plane at substantiallyright'angles to the plane of the base member, said skirting terminatingon the side of'the base member nearest the upholstering, and short'inde- "pendent sheet metal clips passing around the side of the basemember opposite'to the skirtmg embracing the base member and the edge ofthe skirting without passing through said skirting.

the edge of the skirting, each of said clips including a relatively longjaw that lies against the outside of the skirting and a relatively shortjaw having its. end bent outwardly and engaging the inner side of theskirting. i

4. A spring construction comprising a circumferential base memberarranged in a plane, helical springs projecting from the plane of thebase member, upholstering covering the outer ends of the springs, aflexible skirting extending from the upholstering in a plane atsubstantially right angles to the plane of the base member, saidskirting terminating in a bead located on the side of the base membernearest the upholstering, and substantially vertically above the basemember, and a separate sheet metal member embracing the base member andthe bead, said member including a relatively long jaw that. lies againstthe outside ofv the skirting and a relatively short jaw having its endbent outwardly and engaging the inner side of the skirting.

5. A spring construction comprisin a circumferential base member arrangein a plane, helical springs projecting from the plane of the basemember, upholstering covering the outer ends of the springs, a flexibleskirting extending from the upholstering in a plane at substantiallyright angles to the plane of the base member, said skirting terminatingin a bead located on the side of the base member nearest theupholstering, and

substantially vertically above the base meming vin a plane atsubstantially right angles to the plane of the base member, saidskirting terminating on the side of the base member nearest theupholstering, and short separate sheet metal clips embracing the basemember and the edge of the skirting, said clips also including a portionwhich embraces the adjacent cross wire.

7; A spring construction comprising a circumferential base memberarranged in a plane, a cross wire joining opposite sides of the basemember, a helical spring projecting from the plane of the base member,upholstering covering the outer end of the spring, a flexible skirtingextending from the upholstering in a plane at substantially right anglesto the plane of the base member, said skirting terminating on the sideof the base member nearest the upholstering, and short separate sheetmetal clips embracing the base member and the edge of the skirting, saidcross wire and said spring constituting two members, said clips alsoincluding a portion that embraces one of the last mentioned members.

8. A spring construction comprising a plurality of helical springsprojecting from. a common base, upholstering covering the outer ends ofthe springs, a skirting extending from the upholstering toward the baseand terminating on the side thereof next the u bolstering, and means forsecuring the e ge of the skirting in position, said means including aportion that embraces the skirting on the side remote from the springsand another portion that embraces the skirting on the side opposite thefirst named portion', said first named portion extending farther towardthe upholstering than the second named portion whereby said edge of theskirting is maintained in vertical alinement with the outer face of thebase.

9. A spring construction comprising a plurality of helical springsprojecting from a common base, upholstering covering the outer ends ofthe springs, a skirting extend ing from the upholstering toward the baseand terminating on the side thereof next the upholstering, said skirtinghaving a beaded edge, and means for securing the edge of the skirting inposition, said means ncluding a portion that embraces the skirting onthe side remote from the springs and another portion that embraces thebeaded edge on the side opposite the first named portion, said firstnamed. portion extending farther toward the upholstering than the secondnamed portion whereby said edge of the skirting is maintained invertical alinement with the outer face of the base.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

GEORGE H. VINETTE.

